ES2947504T3 - A computer-implemented method for configuring electronic relays in an electrical power distribution network - Google Patents

Abstract

A method (100) for configuring one or more electronic relays (2) in an electrical energy distribution network (250), said electronic relays being operatively associated with the corresponding switching devices (20) of said electrical energy distribution network , characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - providing a graphical user interface (110) on a computer screen (52), said graphical user interface including graphic resources (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) activatable by a user ; - providing first graphical resources (11) in said graphical user interface for selecting a graphical configuration template (10), said graphical configuration template representing a corresponding control logic model (10A) for configuring said electronic relays, said logical model comprising control one or more configurable logic elements (10B) by means of corresponding sets of configuration values (CF1, CF2); - providing second graphical resources (12) to configure one or more configurable logical elements (10B) of a control logical model (10A) represented by the selected configuration graphical template (10); - providing third graphical resources (13) in said graphical user interface to associate one or more configured logical elements (10B) to a corresponding electronic relay (2); - check whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions; - if said electronic relays meet said operating conditions, transmit configuration information that includes said configuration values (CF1, CF2) to said electronic relays. CF2); - providing second graphical resources (12) to configure one or more configurable logical elements (10B) of a control logical model (10A) represented by the selected configuration graphical template (10); - providing third graphical resources (13) in said graphical user interface to associate one or more configured logical elements (10B) to a corresponding electronic relay (2); - check whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions; - if said electronic relays meet said operating conditions, transmit configuration information that includes said configuration values (CF1, CF2) to said electronic relays. CF2); - providing second graphical resources (12) to configure one or more configurable logical elements (10B) of a control logical model (10A) represented by the selected configuration graphical template (10); - providing third graphical resources (13) in said graphical user interface to associate one or more configured logical elements (10B) to a corresponding electronic relay (2); - check whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions; - if said electronic relays meet said operating conditions, transmit configuration information that includes said configuration values (CF1, CF2) to said electronic relays. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

A computer-implemented method for configuring electronic relays in an electrical power distribution network

The present invention refers to the field of electrical energy distribution networks.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for configuring the electronic relays of an electrical power distribution network operating at low or medium voltage levels.

For the purposes of this application, the term "low voltage" (LV) refers to operating voltages less than 1 kV AC and 1.5 kV DC, while "medium voltage" refers to operating voltages of up to a few tens of kV, for example up to 72 kV AC and 100 kV DC.

Electrical power distribution networks comprise switching devices (e.g., circuit breakers, disconnectors, contactors, and the like) designed to allow specific sections of an electrical power distribution network to operate properly.

Typically, the switching devices described above are operatively associated with electronic protection and control devices (hereinafter referred to as "electronic relays") that are adapted to verify the operating conditions of the switchgear by means of suitable sensors and generate commands. suitable to warn of the intervention of the associated switching devices, when required by the operating conditions of the electrical energy distribution networks, for example, in the event of failures or overloads.

As is known, the operation of an electronic relay depends on a set of operating parameters (for example, protection threshold values, communication parameters, network parameters, and the like) that are properly stored and processed by the relay to take advantage of its functionalities.

Such operating parameters need to be set appropriately (or "configured" according to widely used terminology) during the lifetime of the relay, for example, when the latter is installed in the field or during maintenance interventions.

Traditional solutions to configure the operating parameters of electronic relays in electrical power distribution networks normally require laborious wiring activity, time to acquire the inputs and outputs of the relays, and intense programming activity to model and configure the functionalities. of the relays. Document EP 1359482 A1 discloses providing a graphical user interface that includes graphical resources activateable by a user on the computer screen of a computing device.

intelligent electronics, IEDs, such as electronic relays or meters of an electrical network, through some resources or configuration wizards.

All these activities normally involve the intervention of specialized personnel with a notable increase in overall costs.

Furthermore, it is generally not possible to obtain preventive information about whether the relay configuration has been done correctly before the relays begin to operate. The main objective of the present invention is to provide a method to establish the operating parameters of the electronic relays of an electrical energy distribution network, which allows solving or mitigating the technical problems highlighted above.

Within this objective, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for carrying out a rapid and efficient configuration of electronic relays.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method that can be easily carried out even by unskilled operators.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method that can be easily implemented by computer without the adoption of expensive processing resources.

This objective and objects are achieved by a method for establishing operating parameters of electronic relays in an electrical power distribution network, according to the following claim 1 and the related dependent claims.

In a general definition, the method, according to the invention, comprises the following steps:

• providing a graphical user interface on a computer screen, said graphical user interface including graphical resources that can be activated by a user;

• providing first graphical resources in said graphical user interface for selecting a graphical configuration template, said graphical configuration template representing a corresponding control logic model for configuring said electronic relays, said control logic model comprising one or more logical elements configurable by means of corresponding sets of configuration values;

• providing second graphical resources for configuring said one or more configurable logical elements of a control logical model represented by a selected configuration graphical template;

• providing third graphical resources in said graphical user interface to associate one or more configured logical elements to the corresponding electronic relays;

• check whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions;

• if said electronic relays meet said operating conditions, transmit configuration information including said configuration values to said electronic relays.

Preferably, said first graphical resources comprise one or more first graphical objects, each first graphical object corresponding to a graphical configuration template selectable for configuring said electronic relays.

According to the invention, said second graphical resources comprise one or more second graphical objects to assist a user in providing first configuration values to configure said configurable logical elements, said first configuration values being related to global operating parameters used by said electronic relays.

According to the invention, said second graphical resources comprise one or more third graphical objects to assist a user in providing individual second configuration values to configure said configurable logical elements, said second configuration values being related to individual operating parameters used by said electronic relays.

Preferably, said third graphical resources comprise one or more fourth graphical objects to assist a user in associating each configured logical element with a corresponding electronic relay.

According to the invention, said step of checking whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions comprises the step of providing fourth graphical resources in said graphical user interface to help a user acquire information related to the operating conditions met by said electronic relays.

According to the invention, said step of checking whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions comprises the step of providing fifth graphical resources in said graphical user interface to assist a user in providing information related to the operating conditions of said relays. electronics.

Preferably, said step of transmitting said configuration information to said electronic relays comprises the step of receiving coded information to allow the transmission of said configuration values to said electronic relays, the step of checking said coded information and the step of transmitting said configuration information. configuration to said electronic relays, if said coded information is correct.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program, according to the following claim 6.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a computing device, according to the following claim 7.

Preferably, said computing device is configured to communicate with said electronic relays through one or more accessory devices. Each accessory device is included in or operatively coupled with a corresponding electronic relay and is configured to operate as an Internet or LAN or WAN gateway for said corresponding electronic relay.

Features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments, non-limiting examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: • Figures 1 to 3 are schematic views showing a computing device implementing the configuration method, according to one aspect of the invention;

• Figure 4 schematically shows a switching device operatively associated with an electronic relay provided with an accessory device operating as an Internet or LAN or WAN gateway;

• Figures 5-11 are schematic views showing the steps of the method, according to the invention.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the present invention relates to a method 100 for configuring one or more electronic relays 2 in an electrical power distribution network 250, preferably operating at low voltage levels.

Conveniently, the electronic relays 2 are operatively associated with the corresponding switching devices 20 (for example, circuit breakers, disconnectors, contactors or the like) of the electrical power distribution network 250 to control the operation of the latter.

In Figure 2, an electronic relay 2 is schematically represented, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Preferably, an electronic relay 2 comprises a control unit 21 configured to acquire data related to the operating conditions of the electrical power distribution network 250, check said operating conditions and provide appropriate commands to notify of the intervention of the switching device. associated 20 in case of abnormal conditions, for example, in case of breakdowns or overloads. An electronic relay 2 may comprise or be operatively coupled with various types of communication buses 25, 26, 27.

As an example, an electronic relay 2 may comprise a local bus 25 suitably designed to provide a communication channel between the control unit 21 and other accessory devices 1, 22, 23, 24 of the electronic protection relay 2. The local bus 25 may implement a FIELDBUS type communication protocol, such as ETHERNET, with "multi-master" type communication modalities.

As a further example, an electronic relay 2 can communicate with various electronic protection devices 2A through a system bus 27 of the electrical power distribution network 250. The system bus 27 can conveniently be designed to provide a communication channel between the control unit 21 and additional electronic devices 2A (for example, additional electronic relays) which may also be at a remote location with respect to the relay 2. The system bus 27 may implement a communication protocol of the type MODBUS, PROFIBUS, PROFINET or MODBUS-TCP, using "master-slave" communication modalities.

As a further example, an electronic relay 2 may communicate with additional electronic devices 2B via a switchboard bus 26 of the switchgear that includes the relay itself. The switchboard bus 26 is conveniently designed to provide a specialized communication channel between the protection and control unit 21 and the additional electronic devices 2B (for example, additional electronic relays) of said switchgear. The switchboard bus 26 may implement a FIELDBUS type communication protocol using "multi-master" type communication modalities.

An electronic relay 2 may comprise or be operatively coupled with various types of accessory devices designed to enhance/expand (such as accessory device 1) the functions of the control unit 21, to provide an interface to external communication buses (such as accessory devices 22, 24), to provide an auxiliary interface (such as the accessory device 23) for the protection and control unit 21 (such as a display or an LED interface), and the like.

Preferably, each electronic relay 2 is operatively coupled to or comprises an accessory device 1 configured to provide said electronic relay with Internet or LAN or WAN communication capabilities.

Preferably, the accessory device 1 (such as the accessory devices 22, 23, 24) is adapted to be removably mounted together with the corresponding electronic protection relay 2 on the switching device 20, as shown in Figure 4.

However, according to other solutions, the accessory device 1 may be removably mounted on the external casing of the corresponding electronic protection relay 2, when the latter is an independent unit, or it may be an internal electronic module integrated within the corresponding relay. electronic 2.

In Figure 3, an accessory device 1 is schematically represented, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Preferably, an accessory device 1 comprises at least a first communication port 1A suitable for communicating with electronic devices (for example, the control unit 21) included in or operatively connected with the corresponding electronic relay 2.

As an example, the communication port 1A may be an ETHERNET port suitable for operatively coupling with the local bus 25 of the corresponding electronic relay 2.

Preferably, the accessory device 1 comprises at least one second communication port 1B suitable for communicating with one or more remote computing devices 50 via the Internet or a LAN or a WAN.

As an example, communication port 1B may be a TCP or UDP port suitable for an Internet protocol suite.

The information can be transmitted over an Internet or LAN or WAN line by means of a suitable communication cable (for example, of the ETHERNET type) or a suitable antenna arrangement (for example, of the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth type) .

Preferably, the accessory device 1 comprises a corresponding processing unit 1C configured to manage its operation.

It is important to note that the accessory device 1 can provide the corresponding electronic relay 2 with a direct connection to the Internet or to a LAN or to a WAN without the need to use or arrange specialized communication buses (such as, for example, the system bus 27).

In other words, the accessory device 1 is adapted to operate as an Internet or LAN or WAN gateway through which the relay 2 (in particular, the protection and control unit 21 thereof) can communicate directly with a remote computing device 50.

As mentioned above, method 100, according to the invention, is a method for configuring electronic relays 2 of an electrical power distribution network 250.

As those skilled in the art know, "configuring" an electronic relay consists of establishing a set of operating parameters (for example, protection threshold values, communication parameters, network parameters and the like) used by said electronic relay to take advantage of its functionalities.

These operating parameters may be related to the general operation of the electrical energy distribution network (global operating parameters) or to the specific operation of the electronic relay (individual operating parameters).

In general, the operating parameters of an electronic relay can be set by providing the electronic relay with suitable numerical or logical values (setting values) that can be stored and processed by the electronic relay itself.

As will apparently be deduced from the following, the method 100, according to the invention, is particularly suitable to be implemented by a computing device 50 and, for the sake of clarity, will be described below with specific reference to this type of implementation.

In general, the computing device 50 may be of any known type, such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or the like.

The computing device 50 is provided with a processing unit 51 (e.g., including one or more microprocessors) that can execute software instructions 510 to implement the method 100, in accordance with the invention.

The computing device 50 comprises a storage memory in which the instructions of the software 510 are permanently stored.

Alternatively, computing device 50 may be operatively associated with another memory medium from which software instructions 510 may be loaded for execution by processing unit 51.

The computing device 50 comprises or is operatively associated with a display 52 that is driven by the processing unit 51.

Conveniently, the computing device 50 has Internet or LAN or WAN communication capabilities. To this end, it is equipped with one or more communication ports 54 (for example, an ETHERNET port or a Bluetooth port or a Wi-Fi port) that are driven by the processing unit 51 to communicate with remote electronic devices via Internet or a LAN or a WAN.

Preferably, the computing device 50 can communicate via the Internet or a LAN or a WAN with the electronic relays 2 through the accessory devices 1 of the latter, each accessory device being configured to operate as an Internet gateway or a LAN or a WAN for a corresponding electronic relay, as mentioned above.

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step in which the computing device 50 provides a graphical user interface 190 on the computing screen 52 (Figure 5).

The graphical user interface 190 is a visual graphical environment comprising visual graphical resources 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (e.g., graphical icons, graphical windows, graphical cursors, visual indicators, visual menus and the like) to assist a user. user in the configuration of the electronic relays 2 by means of the computing device 50.

In general, the graphical resources 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are available to assist a user who provides at the input to the computing device 50 specific commands to execute the corresponding actions or information to configure the relays (for example, the values (CF1, CF2). Conveniently, the graphic resources 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 can be activated by a user according to known activation modes normally adopted in computing devices, for example, clicking on said graphic resources via a mouse pointer (e.g. for example, when screen 52 is a computer monitor or laptop screen) or touching the corresponding interactive regions of screen 52 (for example, when screen 52 is a touch screen). The information may be entered by a user according to known input modes normally adopted in computing devices, for example, by typing or activating specialized graphical objects (graphical cursors, graphical icons and the like).

Preferably, the graphical user interface 190 comprises one or more configuration pages, in which the graphical resources 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are made available.

Preferably, the graphical user interface 190 comprises auxiliary graphical resources 17 (e.g., graphical buttons) on each configuration page to allow a user to navigate through different configuration pages or to save or load said configuration pages to/from the storage memory 53. According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step in which the computing device 50 provides, in the graphical user interface 190 (preferably in a specialized configuration page), first graphic resources 11 to select a graphical configuration template 10 for configuring the electronic relays 2 (figures 6, 7).

A graphical configuration template 10 graphically represents a corresponding control logic model 10A for configuring the electronic relays 2.

A control logic model 10A describes a possible layout and mode of operation implemented by the electrical power distribution network 250 and, more particularly, by the relays 2.

A control logic mode 10A comprises one or more logic elements 10B, each of which refers to a corresponding set of operating parameters that are configurable by means of suitable configuration values.

A configurable logic element 10B is conveniently indicative of an electronic relay that has the same set of operating parameters, which has to be established by means of said configuration values. Of course, the configuration values of a logic element 10B can be related to the global operating parameters and the aforementioned individual operating parameters used by said relay to take advantage of its functionalities.

A user can select a given configuration graphic template 10 from one or more predefined configuration graphic templates 10.

By activating the graphical resources 11, selection commands are sent to the computing device 50 to retrieve a desired configuration graphical template 10 from a number of those available. Conveniently, the graphical configuration templates 10 are designed and validated (for example, by the supplier of the electronic relays 2) before carrying out the configuration process of the electronic relays 2.

In this way, a number of validated control logic models 10A can be made available to a user and a user can select the most appropriate one to configure the electronic relays 2 without the need to ex-novo model the operation of the power distribution network. electrical 250, for example, using a complicated programming language (for example, a PLC programming language).

In this way, errors in the modeling of the operation of the electrical energy distribution network 250 and, more particularly, of the electronic relays 2 are avoided and the configuration process of the relays 2 can also be carried out by users with knowledge. limited in this regard.

The validated graphical configuration templates 10 can advantageously be compiled in a library that can be permanently stored in the storage memory 53 or on an equivalent memory medium or downloaded from an additional computing resource (not shown) in communication (e.g., via Internet or a LAN or a WAN) with the computer 50.

Preferably, the first graphic resources 11 comprise one or more graphic objects (for example, graphic icons), each corresponding to a predefined configuration graphic template 10 selectable for configuring the electronic relays 2.

Each graphic object 11 can be activated by a user to retrieve a corresponding configuration graphic template 10. In this way, a user can select the desired configuration graphic template 10 in an assisted manner.

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 provides a selected configuration graphical template 10 in the graphical user interface 190 (preferably in one or more specialized configuration pages of the latter) in response to the activation of graphic resources 11 by a user (Figures 8-11).

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 provides second graphical resources 12 that are operatively associated with the selected configuration graphical template 10, in the graphical user interface 190 (Figures 8-9 ).

In general, the second graphical resources 12 are directed to assist a user in configuring the configurable logic elements 10B.

In other words, thanks to the second graphical resources 12, a user can provide configuration values to configure the configurable logical elements 10.

According to the invention, the second graphical resources 12 are operatively associated with the configurable logical elements 10B of the control logical model 10A represented by the selected configuration graphical template 10.

Preferably, the second graphical resources 12 and the selected configuration graphical template 10, to which they are operatively associated, are available on specialized configuration pages of the graphical user interface 190.

According to the invention, the second graphical resources 12 comprise one or more second graphical objects 12A, 12B, 12C to assist a user in providing the first configuration values CF1 to configure the configurable logical elements 10B of the control logical model 10A shown. by the selected configuration graphic template 10.

Conveniently, the first configuration values CF1 are configuration values related to the global operating parameters used by the electronic relays 2. In more detail, they are aimed at setting configuration parameters of the logical elements 10B, which correspond to global operating parameters used by electronic relays 2.

According to an example shown in Figure 8, said second graphic objects may comprise one or more graphic icons 12A (operatively associated with a corresponding control logic element), which may be activated by a user.

Said second graphical objects may further comprise one or more graphical windows 12B provided by the computing device 50 in response to the activation of the graphical icons 12A. Conveniently, the viewports 12B comprise additional icons and cursors 12C to allow a user to set the first configuration values in an assisted manner.

Preferably, the second graphical objects 12A, 12B, 12C and the selected configuration graphical template 10, to which they are operatively associated, are available on a specialized configuration page of the graphical user interface 190.

Once the entry of the first configuration values is completed, a user may save said configuration page and related configuration information to storage memory 53 by activating a suitable auxiliary graphical resource 17 (e.g., a save button). .

According to the invention, the second graphical resources 12 comprise one or more third graphical objects 12D, 12E, 12F to assist a user in providing the second configuration values CF2 to configure the configurable logical elements 10B of the control logical model 10A shown. by the previously selected configuration graphic template 10 (Figure 9).

Conveniently, the second configuration values CF2 are configuration values related to the individual operating parameters used by the electronic relays 2. In more detail, they are directed to setting configuration parameters of the logic elements 10B, which correspond to individual operating parameters used by electronic relays 2.

According to an example shown in Figure 9, the mentioned third graphic objects may advantageously comprise one or more graphic icons 12D (operatively associated with a corresponding control logic element), which can be activated by a user.

Said third graphical objects may further comprise one or more graphical windows 12E, which are displayed by the computing device 50 in response to the activation of the graphical icons 12D. Conveniently, the windows 12E comprise additional hoverable icons or cursors 12F to allow a user to set the second configuration values in an assisted manner.

Preferably, the third graphical objects 12D, 12E, 12F and the selected configuration graphical template 10, to which they are operatively associated, are available on a specialized configuration page of the graphical user interface 190.

Once the entry of the second configuration values is completed, a user may save said configuration page and related configuration information to storage memory 53 by activating a suitable auxiliary graphic resource 17 (e.g., a save button). .

In this step of the method 100, one or more sets of configuration values CF1, CF2 are associated with the corresponding configurable logic elements 10B of the control logic model 10A represented by the selected configuration graphical template 10.

It is important to note that each set of configuration values CF1, CF2 is not yet associated with a physical relay 2, since the configuration steps described above have been carried out in the control logic model 10A without intervening in relays 2.

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 provides third graphical resources 13 in the graphical user interface 190, which are operatively associated with the selected configuration graphical template 10 (Figure 10).

In general, the third graphical resources 13 are directed to assist a user in associating each configured logical element 10B of the control logical model 10A, which is represented by the selected configuration graphical template 10, to a corresponding physical relay 2.

In other words, thanks to the third graphical resources 13, a user can associate each set of configuration values CF1, CF2 (used to configure the configurable logic elements 10B of the control logic model 10A) with a corresponding relay 2.

Preferably, the third graphical resources 13 and the selected configuration graphical template 10, to which they are operatively associated, are available on a specialized configuration page of the graphical user interface 190.

Preferably, the graphical resources 13 comprise one or more fourth graphical objects 13A, 13B to assist a user in associating each configurable logic element 10B with a corresponding relay 2. According to an example shown in Figure 10, said fourth graphical objects may comprise one or more graphical icons 13A (each of which is operatively associated with a corresponding control logic element 10B), which may be activated by a user of according to one of the activation modes described above.

Said fourth graphical objects may further comprise one or more graphical windows 13B that include corresponding lists of graphical labels 14C, each of which reports identification information to a corresponding electronic relay 2.

Preferably, the identification information of the electronic relays 2 is stored in the storage memory 53 (or other equivalent storage medium) before carrying out the configuration process described above.

Identification information about the electronic relays 2 may be provided directly by a user 2 (e.g., on a specialized input page - not shown - of the graphical user interface 190) or may be automatically downloaded by the computing device 50 from the relays. electronics 2 establishing a connection to the Internet or LAN or WAN with the latter.

The association between each configured control logic element 10B with a corresponding electronic relay 2 can be carried out by a user in an assisted manner simply by selectively activating a corresponding graphic icon 13A and a corresponding graphic label 13B.

It is evident from the above that, thanks to the graphical resources 13A, 13B, a user can provide the computing device 50 with link information on how to associate each configured control logic element 10B with a corresponding physical electronic relay 2.

Said link information therefore allows each set of configuration values CF1, CF2 related to a logical control element 10B to be associated with a corresponding electronic relay 2.

Preferably, said link information is stored in the storage memory 53 (or other equivalent storage medium) and is used by the computing device 50 to correctly transmit the aforementioned configuration values CF1, CF2 to the electronic relays 2.

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step in which the computing device 50 checks whether the electronic relays 2 meet the predefined operating conditions (Figure 11).

This stage is quite advantageous since it guarantees a correct subsequent transmission of the configuration parameters CF1, CF2 to the electronic relays 2 and, consequently, the prompt operation of the electronic relays once they have been properly configured.

Preferably, said checking step is carried out automatically, at least partially, by the computing device 50 after the establishment of a communication with the electronic relays 2 and the interrogation of each electronic relay 2 by the computing device 50.

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 provides fourth graphical resources 14 in the graphical user interface 190 to help a user acquire information related to the operating conditions that said relays meet. electronics 2, based on the automatic check carried out by the computing device 50.

Preferably, the fourth graphic resources 14 are operatively associated with the configuration graphic template 10 selected on a specialized configuration page of the graphical user interface 190.

Preferably, the fourth graphic resources 14 comprise one or more fourth graphic objects 14A for displaying information related to the electronic relays 2.

According to an example shown in Figure 11, said fourth graphic objects may comprise one or more graphic windows 14A that include a list of graphic labels 14B, each of which reports information about the operating conditions of the electronic relays 2.

However, to complete the check of the operating conditions of the electronic relays 2, check information provided by a user may be necessary.

According to the invention, the method 100 comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 provides fifth graphical resources 15 in the graphical user interface 190 to assist a user in providing checking information related to the operating conditions of the devices. electronic relays 2.

According to the invention, the fifth graphic resources 15 are operatively associated with the selected configuration graphic template 10.

Preferably, the fifth second graphical resources 15 and the selected configuration graphical template 10, to which they are operatively associated, are available on a specialized configuration page of the graphical user interface 190.

Preferably, the fifth graphical resources 15 comprise one or more fifth graphical objects 15A, 15B to assist a user in providing said verification information.

According to an example shown in Figure 11, said fifth graphical objects may comprise one or more graphical windows 15A that include corresponding lists of graphical labels 15B, each of which reports predefined part check information in the electronic relays 2 .

Each piece of test information conveniently describes an operating condition that the electronic relays 2 must meet.

By selectively activating the graphical labels 15B, a user can send commands to the computing device 50, which confirm that the corresponding piece of check information is correct and, consequently, that the electronic relays 2 meet the corresponding requested operating condition.

Once the check information entry is completed, a user can save the corresponding configuration page and related configuration information in the storage memory 53 by activating a suitable auxiliary graphic resource 17 (save button).

At this point, the configuration values CF1, CF2 can be transmitted to the electronic relays 2. Accordingly, the method 100 comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 transmits configuration information, including the configuration values CF1, CF2, to electronic relays 2.

After receiving the configuration values CF1, CF2, the electronic relays 2 can appropriately set their operating parameters and start operation.

Preferably, said configuration information is transmitted by the computing device 50 to the electronic relays 2 via the Internet or a LAN or a WAN.

Preferably, the transmission of said configuration information to the electronic relays 2 occurs after the execution of an authentication procedure.

Preferably, such an authentication procedure comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 receives encoded information to allow the transmission of the configuration values to the electronic relays 2. Such encoded information can be received from a memory medium (for example, a USB storage device) operatively coupled to an input port (not shown) of the computing device 50. Alternatively, such encrypted information may be received from a remote computing source in communication with the computing device 50 via the Internet or a LAN or a WAN.

However, other solutions are possible, according to needs.

Preferably, such authentication procedure comprises a step, in which the computing device 50 checks said encoded information to check whether it is correct.

Preferably, such authentication procedure comprises a step in which the computing device 50 transmits said configuration information to the electronic relays 2, if said encoded information is correct. The method 100, according to the invention, makes it possible to completely satisfy the objective and objects mentioned above.

The method allows a user to carry out the configuration process of the electronic relays in an assisted manner with simple steps that can also be carried out by personnel with little experience in electrical energy distribution network modeling.

In this way, electronic relays can be configured quickly and efficiently with a limited probability of error, since the configuration of the relays is carried out taking as reference predefined and validated control logic models.

The method is particularly suitable for implementation by a computing device that can communicate with the electronic relays 2 over the Internet or a LAN or a WAN.

This allows you to avoid or reduce the need to wire electronic relays during the configuration process.

Claims (7)

1. A method (100) for configuring one or more electronic relays (2) in an electrical energy distribution network (250), said electronic relays being operatively associated with the corresponding switching devices (20) of said electrical energy distribution network. electrical energy, where Said method includes the following stages: - providing, by a computing device (50), a graphical user interface (190) on a computer screen (52) of said computing device (50), said graphical user interface including graphical resources (11, 12, 13, 14 , 15) activatable by a user; characterized in that said method comprises the following stages: - providing, by said computing device (50), first graphical resources (11) of said graphical resources in said graphical user interface (190) to select a graphical configuration template (10), said graphical configuration template representing a logical model corresponding control element (10A) to configure said electronic relays, said logical control model comprising one or more logical elements (10B) configurable by means of corresponding sets of configuration values (CF1, CF2), each of the logical elements being ( 10B) indicative of an electronic relay that has the same set of operating parameters that have to be established by said configuration values (CF1, CF2); - providing, by said computing device (50), a selected configuration template (10) in said graphical user interface (190) in response to an activation of said first graphical resources (11) by the user; - providing, by said computing device (50), second graphic resources (12) of said graphic resources in said graphical user interface (190) to configure one or more configurable logical elements (10B) of the control logical model (10A) represented by the selected configuration graphic template (10), where said second graphic resources (12) comprise: - one or more second graphical objects (12A, 12B, 12C) to assist the user in providing first configuration values (CF1) of said configuration values to configure said configurable logical elements (10B), said first configuration values being related to global operating parameters used by said electronic relays; - one or more third graphical objects (12D, 12E, 12F) to assist the user in providing second configuration values (CF2) of said configuration values to configure said configurable logical elements (10B), said second configuration values being related to individual operating parameters used by said electronic relays; - providing, by said computing device (50), third graphic resources (13) of said graphic resources in said graphical user interface (190) to associate the one or more configured logical elements (10B) of the control logical model (10A) represented by the selected configuration template (10) to the corresponding electronic relays (2); - checking, by said computing device (50), whether said electronic relays meet predefined operating conditions, after establishing communication with said electronic relays and interrogating said electronic relays, wherein said checking step includes the step of providing fourth graphic resources (14) of said graphic resources in said graphical user interface (190) to help the user acquire information related to the operating conditions that said electronic relays meet through said computing device (50), said fourth resources being operationally associated graphics to the selected configuration template (10), wherein said checking step further comprises the step of providing fifth graphical resources (15) of said graphical resources in said graphical user interface (190) to assist the user in providing related information with the operating conditions of said electronic relays to said computing device (50), said fifth graphic resources being operationally associated with the selected configuration template (10); - if said electronic relays meet said predefined operating conditions, transmitting configuration information that includes said first and second configuration values (CF1, CF2) to said electronic relays. 2. A method, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first graphic resources comprise one or more first graphic objects (11), each of said first graphic objects corresponding to a configuration graphic template (10) selectable to configure said electronic relays. 3. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third graphic resources (13) comprise one or more fourth graphic objects (13A, 13B) to help a user associate each logical element configured to said corresponding electronic relay (2). 4. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said configuration information is transmitted to said electronic relays (2) via the Internet or a LAN or a WAN. 5. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step of transmitting said configuration information to said electronic relays (2) comprises the following steps: - receiving encrypted information to allow the transmission of said configuration information to said electronic relays; - check said encoded information; - transmitting said configuration information to said electronic relays if said encoded information is correct. 6. A computer program, which is stored on a storage medium, characterized in that it comprises software instructions that cause a computing device (50) to implement a method (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, when said software instructions are executed by said computing device (50). 7. A computing device (50) characterized in that it is configured to implement a method (1), according to one or more of claims 1 to 5.